Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today is understood to have written a letter to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad requesting exemption from NEET for one more academic year and has pleaded to participate in the nationwide entrance test for medical UG and PG courses in 2014.

Actually the state had agreed taking part in the NEET from 2012 in 2010 but now the CM says that the state could not meet the deadline. The state has been citing the need for changes in relevant laws as well as the student curriculum, while asking for the exemption.

Introduction of NEET would involve certain amendments to the AP Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1983, and also the Dr NTR University of Health Sciences Act, 1986 under which the State’s Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) is held.

The EAMCET ranking is based on 25 per cent marks secured in the Intermediate examination and 75 per cent in the EAMCET. The students who joined Intermediate in 2011-12 are eligible for 25% weightage marks. This is as per the provision in the relevant law.

“The NEET syllabus is based on the CBSE curriculum while AP adopted it from the academic year 2012-13. Students joining in 2012-13 would complete the Intermediate course by April, 2014. It would be appropriate for these students to appear for the NEET in 2014 as they would have studied as per the revised curriculum and also would not be eligible for weightage in marks,” the Chief Minister said.